Packing Tips
We want you to have the best possible storage experience that we can offer, so below is everything that you’ll need to know in order to be a ‘packing pro!’.
A experienced and highly trained storage experts, we are always on hand to assist you. You can purchase our professional and high quality boxes and other packaging materials, such as; wardrobe boxes, file boxes, bubble wrap, strong tape, fragile labels, scissors, furniture covers, etc.
Choosing your boxes
It’s a common misconception that you can just throw everything into boxes randomly to get the job done; it may save you time then, but cost you more further down the line! A poorly packed box can be the difference between safe storage and replacement costs..
We advise against the use of black bags/bin bags as these have a tendency to tear easily and don’t give much in the way of ventilation, so can also cause mildew!
You should use smaller boxes for the smaller, heavier items, like tableware (plates, bowls, cups, saucers, etc.), books/DVDs/games, tinned foods and bottled drinks, etc. and large boxes for lighter items like bedding (duvets, duvet covers, blankets/throws, etc.), clothing/jackets, etc.
Hanging Garment Boxes (Wardrobe Boxes) - What are they?
These are considered to be ‘specialist’ boxes in our industry. They’re specifically designed to be used as a portable, temporary wardrobe. You can hang suits, dresses, shirts, evening wear, jackets etc. in these boxes to keep them from wrinkling, creasing or general damage.
The best past about these boxes is that it has a side door (like a wardrobe) so that you can move your hung items straight from your wardrobe, to this box, hassle free - simple!
Of course, these boxes can also be used for other items - due to their incredible 1016mm height, you can get taller items in, such as larger decorative items, garden sheers, tall vases, etc.
Curious as what what a wardrobe box looks like? Check it out > Click here!
Don’t overpack!
This should be an obvious one, but we’ve found that most customers overpack their boxes, causing damage to their items later on. You should pack the boxes so that you can comfortably lift it (without feeling like your back is about to break!). You should start by putting the heavier items at the bottom and lighter at the top, thus giving it a sturdy base.
You should also never under-pack boxes. Items may move around during transport, damaging them. The boxes would also get crushed under other boxes when stacked in the unit. You can fill the empty space with loose fill (packaging peanuts), without adding too much extra weight!
Ensure that the boxes retain their shape and aren’t bulging out from all directions! This will help with the stacking process; it’ll keep them stable and save a little more room.
Taping and Labelling
We can’t stress enough how important a good quality packaging tape is! Once you’ve finished with your careful, well planned out packing, you should secure the boxes using a good quality packaging tape to reaffirm the boxes structures and to better protect your items. Use wide tape to securely seal the top and bottom flaps of each box.
We sell two kinds of high quality packaging tape, THIS is the brown tape and THIS is the clear tape, check them out!
Now that your boxes are packed, sealed and ready to roll out, you should consider labelling each box with the contents so that you don’t have to rummage through them all later on to find that special teapot! Use large/heavy black marker pen, kind of like this one.
You should also clearly mark the direction in which you’d like the boxes to be stacked. This will help to reduce the risk of damage to your items.
Wrapping and Condensing
When it comes to further protection of your items, it’s strongly recommended that you use wraps and covers. Nowadays, there’s a large choice of wraps and covers for specific items, but you can also buy the standard ‘dust cover’ to throw over everything once in the unit!
We sell a wide range of these covers; check them out HERE.
If you’re worried about space, like most of us would be (who doesn't want to save money?!) then a good idea would be to condense items. You can dismantle most furniture items to conserve space, like bed frames; tape the parts together so nothing gets lost and then put all of the screws and fixings in a zip-seal bag and tape to one of the larger parts. You should do this for any and all items that you can, such as; chests of drawers, bedside tables, tables & chairs, TV stands, etc.